STDs

Statistics confirm, Herpes infections are on the decline, however, it’s still a contagious disease with no cure, and half of the teens and young adults transmit the disease. And this has been the catalyst for the uptick in herpes home test kits being sold.

Once a person has contracted the disease, the herpes simplex virus remains in the body. This may account for bouts of re-occurrences throughout the course of a person’s life, especially when his or her immune system is compromised. Some people have diminished breakouts and often become asymptomatic after a few years. Despite being symptom-free, this doesn’t stop them from transmitting the disease.

The Spread Of Genital Herpes

One of the most common, sexually transmitted disease or infections that afflict a good number of teens and adults in the world. It takes about two to seven days from the onset of infection for signs and symptoms to initially appear. These include:

* General flu-like signs and symptoms such as headaches, body aches, fever and soreness

* Mild swelling of the lymph nodes at the armpits, groin and or neck.
Itching, tingling, redness, and general inflammation at the affected area

* On the genital or pubic area, there may be a formation of blisters, reddish patches of skin spots, bumps, or lesions. When these blisters burst, they can form sores or ulcers, which tend to scab or crust over as they heal. Herpes lesions may look similar to a red spot, pimple, ingrown hair, hemorrhoids, or insect bites.

Some people do not present any perceivable signs or symptoms but are still able to transmit the disease through what doctors call asymptomatic shedding. This means the virus is present on the skin, but the person who has it does not experience any ill effects. If enough of the virus is shed when having direct contact with other people, then the infection might be successfully spread.

Management And Treatment

Any signs and symptoms of Herpes will resolve themselves after some time. The management is mostly to help alleviate the pain and discomfort. There are several self-help techniques you can do:

1. Always practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands before and after touching the infected area to prevent the introduction of new infectious agents that might cause a delay in the healing process.

2. Keep sores moist by applying petroleum-based products.

3. Wash the infected area at least once a day. A warm saltwater solution, one teaspoon salt for every pint of water will help soothe the inflamed skin.

5. To reduce itching, keep the affected area cool. Wear underclothing made from cotton and avoid non-breathable fabrics such as spandex and lycra.

Because Herpes Simplex can spread easily and isn’t readily noticeable if you’re sexually active it’s smart to keep herpes home test kits nearby to ensure your sex partner doesn’t have the disease. But the best prevention is using a latex condom which will prevent the spread of this disease.

If you are a sexually active adult, you need to learn how to practice safe sex. This is because there are many different types of sexually transmitted diseases that you can contract if you are not careful. Some of the most common STDs include HPV, hepatitis B, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and HIV among others. As you may already know, HIV does not have a cure and can easily be spread from one sexual partner to the next. The disease basically compromises the immunity of the body, which means that any opportunistic infection can be fatal. The following are some key strategies for avoiding sexually transmitted diseases:

i) Abstain

Abstinence is the most effective strategy for preventing infection. If you do not have any type of sexual contact with someone else, you cannot get infected. Therefore, you should consider avoiding sexual contact until you can find a faithful partner whom you can have a long-term relationship with. You will not lose anything by abstaining from having any sort of sexual contact.

ii) Get Tested Regularly

One of the best strategies for containing the spread of STDs is getting tested regularly. When you are tested on a regular basis, you can pick out any infection that you might have contracted. This will allow you to seek medical attention in a timely manner. As a result, the STD can be treated effectively. Be sure to also ask your partner to get tested with you to confirm that both of you are free from sexually transmitted diseases.

iii) Get Vaccinated

There are some sexually transmitted diseases that have a vaccine. The two most common being HPV and hepatitis B. To avoid getting any of these diseases, therefore, you should consider getting vaccinated. Be sure to talk with your doctor about getting vaccinated to determine your eligibility. That said, you should not practice irresponsible sexual behavior as you can still get other types of sexually transmitted diseases.

iv) Use Condoms

Many do not like using latex condoms but they are highly effective. Be sure to use male latex condoms or ask your partner to put on a condom each time you have sex. In addition to preventing pregnancies, condoms can also stop the transmission of STDs.

v) Practice Mutual Monogamy

Mutual monogamy is having a single sexual partner. Your sexual partner must also have only you as their sexual partner. If both of you are free of any STDs, you can be assured of staying free of these diseases. Please note that you can buy STD home test kits to test yourself at the comforts of your home.

Despite educational efforts and protective measures in place to reduce the risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates that there has been an uptick in STDs. STDs, also known as Sexually Transmitted Infections are transmitted when individuals engage in unprotected sexual activity. Anyone who is sexually active is at risk for contracting an STD, but some groups are at higher risk than others. According to the CDC, men who have sex with men experience higher STD rates, and half of all new STD infections occur in young people in the age 15-24 age group.

What are Some Common STDs?

Sexually transmitted diseases have been around for a long time. Most people are familiar with syphilis, genital herpes, gonorrhea, and HIV. Other sexually transmitted infections include chlamydia, trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, hepatitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and human papillomavirus (HPV).

It is possible to have an STD and not be symptomatic which is why the best protection against STD is to not have sex. An individual can look perfectly healthy and carry STDs, making it important for sexually active individuals to protect themselves. The CDC recommends using condoms to reduce the risk of transmitting STDs, especially when one is unsure of whether the person he or she is having sex with has an infection.

It is Important to Avoid STDs

STDs can be treated, and many STDs can be cured after treatment. However, the availability of treatment and cures no matter how successful, should not lull a sexually active individual into a false sense of security. Taking chances because treatments exist is risky because of the long-term and devastating impacts of some STDs.

When an STD is left untreated because an individual is not aware that he or she is infected, there is the potential to spread the infection to many people. Untreated STDs can also lead to sterility, impacting the ability to have children. Untreated STDs can also cause developmental issues during pregnancy.

There are STDs that can be fatal. HIV left untreated can be deadly when it progresses to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Human papillomavirus is a precursor to cervical cancer and if the cancer is not diagnosed and treated early, can lead to death.

Take Steps to Prevent STDs

Abstaining from sex is the surest way to prevent STDs and recognized that intimacy can be achieved outside of sexual intercourse. Getting tested for STDs is important for people who are sexually active. The earlier STDs are diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. A monogamous relationship with a person who does not have an STD and using condoms during intercourse can also protect sexually active people from STDs.